Raven's Soul. Volume 2 - стр. 21
– My king, I have prepared some herbal pills that will keep you on your feet for as long as possible during the day, and this decoction of snake skin will slow the effects of the poison. Perhaps we'll gain a week or more," she said in an even tone, but I noticed that her eyes were full of sadness and glistened brightly, as if she had recently shed a few tears.
– Thank you, I am indebted to you. – Before, I had always seen a "stone" lady, but now in front of me sat a completely different Andrada, and this circumstance extremely surprised me. – Has something happened? Did someone hurt you?
– It's fine, Your Majesty, don't worry. – Noticing my gaze, Andrada smiled indulgently as if trying to deceive my suspicions. – It was just a flake in my eye while I was preparing the potion.
– If you say so. You don't have to explain yourself to me," I mumbled, and looked away so as not to make her uncomfortable.
– Allow me. – Wrapping her fingers around my chin, Andrada lifted my face and took one of the pills with her other hand and pushed it gently into my mouth, barely touching my lips with her fingers.
– I can take my own medicine, Andrada," I said calmly, but I felt discontent in my heart: she was shoving the pill into me as if I were a cripple with no strength to lift my arms.
– I know. I am only looking out for you, my king," Andrada replied in the same calm tone.
We stared at each other, and I could have sworn she was embarrassed for a moment. A few months ago I would have possessed this girl without a second thought, but now other women were indifferent to me. I saw no one but my spouse. Her skin. Her hair. She was my opium that I had not desired but had been forced to take and now I could no longer refuse. I'm drawn to Sylvia, and only to her.
– Thank you for your help, Andrada," I said, and leaned my head back against the tall, soft pillows. I was embarrassed, and I wished the sorceress would leave me, but I valued her too highly to dismiss her as some kind of delinquent servant.
– You're welcome, my king. I am only doing my duty. – Andrada's face became "stone" again. The old Andrada was with me now, and I must admit that I liked her much better.
There are many people in the palace who try to please me. Every time I pass by, they smile at me and greet me according to their status. Most of them try to make conversation with me, to solve state affairs with me, to discuss important issues, but there are also those who just fawn over me, interfering with my work or trying to put one of their daughters under me, even if this girl will later have the unenviable status of a mistress. The funny thing about all this is that I was aware of the discontent among the palace nobles and the unrest among the townspeople. Every other citizen of Kaldwind, if not wanting to kill me, was at least waiting for someone to decide to do so. For reasons I understand, shortly after King Juris' death and my coronation, foul rumors spread throughout the kingdom that I had usurped the throne, but that was not the case. King Juris himself handed over the throne to me, and for good reason. I had never thought that fate had such a good sense of humor: putting a man born to clutch weapons, kill and command vultures on the throne of Kaldwind instead of a refined princess who had been prepared from childhood to be a future queen, who had been taught manners… I had to think of such a thing.